Ghana joins Burkina Faso to unveil Thomas Sankara Memorial Park
Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to Pan-African solidarity by participating in the inauguration of a memorial park and giant statue in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, honoring the late Burkinabè revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara.
The high-level Ghanaian delegation, led by Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, represented President John Dramani Mahama at the ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The event marked the official opening of a memorial complex dedicated to Sankara and twelve of his comrades who were assassinated in a 1987 coup.
Joining the delegation were prominent figures including Minister for Government Communications and presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahel States Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey (rtd), and Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Security and Intelligence. Also present were two former national security advisors under the Rawlings administration: Naval Captain Asaase Gyima (rtd) and Kofi Totobi Quakyi.
The Thomas Sankara Memorial, featuring a towering bronze statue, serves not only as a site of remembrance but also as a symbol of resistance and hope. Burkina Faso’s government described the park as a “place of reflection and revolution,” aimed at inspiring the next generation to confront neo-colonialism and terrorism through unity and resilience.
Describing Sankara and his fellow revolutionaries as “fallen but forever alive in our hearts,” Burkinabè officials stressed the importance of preserving their ideals. The memorial is part of a broader effort by the country’s transitional leadership to reclaim its revolutionary roots amid ongoing security and governance challenges.
Ghana’s participation in the inauguration underscores a long-standing historical and ideological bond between the two countries. Thomas Sankara maintained close ties with former Ghanaian leader Jerry John Rawlings during his presidency, as both men championed anti-imperialist and self-reliant policies across West Africa. The tribute serves as both a reminder of Sankara’s enduring legacy and a call to action for a new generation of Africans seeking transformation through bold, principled leadership.
